Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-06-23
THE BLUxDER RBVoKsD.
President Cleveland suspends hhts
Fagw Exchange order.

I
President Cleveland suspends aais
Faag Exchange order.
The governor of Ohio yesterday week
received q telegram from ID. o. Putnam,
Department Commander OF the Grand
Army OF the Republic OF Ohio, urging
him, in behalf Of the So, 900 comrades OF
this department, to protest TO the
authorities at Washington against the
return Of the rebel flags captured by the
soldiers of Ohio. The governor for
warded the telegram to President,Oi"ye-
land, and In the same connection Bald |
SIN transmitting this message desire to
comply with Its request, and do most
earnestly protest against the action which
It relates. The patriotic people of this |
state are shocked nnd indignant beyond
anything / can express. / earnestly re-
quest Won to revoke the order that has |
given such unqualified offence" The
governor also sent o, telegram to General
Boynton, at Washington, asking him to
take legal advice and institute proceed
ings to enjoin the return of the rebel
flnRs which were captured by Ohio troops.
WAsHMaron, june 16.--The following
letter was sent to the Secretary Of War
by the President to-day in regard TO the
disposition of the Gags captured by the
Union forces during the late war;
I have to-day considered with more care,
than when the subject was orally presented
me,t the action OF your department directing
letters to bs addressed to the governors OF
all the states offering to return, II desired
to the loyal states, Union hags captured
during the rebellion by the Confederate
forces and afterwards recovered by govern
ment troops; and to the Confederate states
the flags captured by the Union forces, all
OF which for many years have been packed
| in boxes and stored In the cellars and attic
| OF the war department. am OF the opinion
| that the return Of the flags In the manner
thus contemplated Is not authorized by
| existing law, nor justified as an executive
act. l request, therefore, that no further
steps be taken In the matter except TO- tx
i anime and inventory these flags and adopt
i proper measures for their preservation.
| Any direction as to the final disposition OF
them should originate with Congress.
/ Yours truly, aRoyER CLEVELAND.
1 At the request Of Governor Foraker of
Ohio, that counsel should be retained to
institute legal proceedings to enjoin the
return of the Confederate flags to the
governors of the Southern States, Gen.
II. v. Boynton to-day selected Hon.
Samuel Shellabarger of Ohio and Hon.
George 8. Boutwell, of Massachusetts, to
take charge Of the Case. These gentlemen
expected to have an application for q
mandamus filed in the supreme court of
the district at 1 O'Clock this afternoon,
but were delayed by the non-reoeipt of
necessary telegram from Ohio. The
papers were based upon the claim that
the Secretary of War was aboutto dispose
of public property without authority OF
law.
The letter of tho President made fur
thsr action by the attorneys unnecessary.
rhe following statement with regard to
the Presidents action concerning thepro.
rosed return of the battle flags was made
at the White House tonight to repre-.
sentative of the Associated Press:
"When the question was proposed te
, 1 the President by the adjutant general, az
important feature suggested was the re
| turn to the loyal states of flags which hat
been captured by the Oonfederates and
retaken by our army OF the time of thu
collapse Of the rebellion. They, will
] such Confederate flags as had been cap
tured from the enemy by our troops, had
2 1t was represented for long time, laii
uncared for and neglected, packed ava!
in boxes, in the cellar of the war depart
ment, and had been removed TO the atti
as better place for their safe keeping.
Z The disposition Of the flags, whicl
seemed to be answering no good purpos
where they were, was the main point
+ and the confederation was presented :
It the President that some flags had bee
L returned to loyal states upon their rt
. quest in individual cases, and the rest,
= = desired, might ss we'll all be returned te
! Rether. The return of the Oontederas
4 flags which were with the others in th
o department was suggested, but there va
: not the slightest thought of interferin
in any way with the captured flags no'
a held by any state.
= Thefaot, apparently received with fave
i by the country, that lately In one or NOR
IS cases northern troops, visiting their lal
, antagonists at the South, had returned
y them flags which had been captured
J" battle from those whose hospitalities the
Il were receiving, the further fact thi
y northern troops, who within short tin
= had been visiting southern battle field
had spoken In the warmest terms of II
rs Mind and hospitable treatment they ha
ID received from former Confederate soldier
d. and the fact, too, that soldiers from Il
es North and South were Just gathering
Il
n ton at the national drill seemed to Ind
In cate that, If the Union flags were return,
or TO the loyal states which had lost them
battle, It would not be inconsistent wi
the fraternal sentiment which seemed
T. be prevalent TO offer at the same time
the governors of the states formerly
~ rebellion return of the flags which '
had taken from their soldiers.
D- mu.n III. "a lt.a danartmanf In ma
~ these returns being questioned by 9
n President, such right was distinct
10, asserted and precedents alleged 81
he thereupon his oral assent was given
he the proposed action.
ell The matter was dismissed from
rd- mind until comment thereupon with
gu the last day or two brought it again
ed his attention, when, upon personally I
for amininR the law and considering the 81
el iect more carefully, he satisfied hims
nix that no disposition of these flags col
are be made without Congressional aotio
10y whereupon he directed a suspension
,on ON operations by the letter made public I
left evening.
iell
len DIES MONIES, Iowa, June 16,-Gene
wn Tuttle, Commander of the q. A. IL
lell Iowa, yesterday asked Governor Larral
Tas ga to protest to President Cleveland agai
ia Ia rebel flags captured by Iowa troops be
Al surrendered to the South and to I,
me legal steps to eujoin any such surrend
ays if it is contemplated. Governor LARA
rip hastelegraphed the President an emph'
ms protest and will take legal steps If net
no nos sary to make the protest effective.
"0o following was sent lust night by Cover
Larrabee.
Ide. TO he President of lbe United SD
v, n Washington: send bere with O req
who made upon me as governor OF Iowa by
shot commander OF the Grand Army OF tho
yton public In the state against the propose,o
and turn 10 the south OF tho war nags cspit
hos by the Union troops during the rebellio
to- add to this request and protest of tho
wing viving Union soldiers in Iowa the iespeS